Intestinal Parasites in Cats
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Cats infested with
worms are more prone to other illnesses. Intestinal worms leech out vitamins
and nutrients that your cat needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some cats
with severe intestinal worms may appear malnourished, tired and depressed. If
the worm infection becomes so extreme that the intestinal passage is blocked,
the cat may even die. Fortunately, worms are easy to treat and rarely get to
the point of seriously harming your cat.
Different types of worms may require
different medication to be effectively treated. Many veterinarians recommend
regular deworming to ensure any infections are treated early, as many are not
caught until they have become severe.
Roundworm infection is common in cats and is transmitted through ingestion of eggs
in an infected rodent, infected soil, or milk from an infected mother. The eggs
hatch into larvae in the stomach, and the larvae travel to the small intestine
where they mature into adults. The adults lay eggs, which pass out of the pet
in feces. The worms can also be transmitted from mother to kittens in utero.
Symptoms of roundworm typically include the following:
- Bloated belly
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
Severe infection can create intestinal obstruction
and cause death in kittens.
Most roundworms are easily treated with
over-the-counter wormers. The Animal House gives every cat and kitten a dose of
Strongid-T, followed by a second dose two weeks later.
Hookworms are the
most common worm seen in dogs, but this type of worm infection is somewhat
uncommon in cats. Hookworms attach to a cat's intestinal lining with
hook-like teeth. Hookworm infection is transmitted
by ingesting the infective larvae (which usually live in soil) or by the larvae
attaching to and burrowing through the cat’s skin. Once inside the body, larvae
travel to the small intestine, mature, mate, and lay eggs. The eggs pass into
the soil through the cat’s feces. Hookworm can also be transmitted through a
nursing mother's milk.
Symptoms
of hookworm infection include the following:
- Anemia (severe cases)
- Diarrhea
- Diminished strength and vitality
The worms feed on the host's blood. Kittens can
develop life-threatening anemia from blood loss even before eggs are detectable
in the feces.
Hookworms are easily treated with over-the-counter
wormers. The Animal House gives every cat and kitten a dose of Strongid-T,
followed by a second dose two weeks later.
Tapeworms are long, segmented worms that can live
in a pet's small intestine. There are several species of tapeworms. One type
develops as larvae in fleas (the disease carrier) and are transmitted when the cat ingests the
fleas while grooming. Another type is
transmitted when a cat eats infective eggs, which live in the soil or larvae,
which live in small rodents.
Tapeworm infection generally causes very little
harm to the host animal. Severe infection may cause the following symptoms:
- Severe itching around the anus
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
You can spot tapeworms, which look like rice, in the stool, near the
anus, or on the pet's fur.
Tapeworms are treated with a single dose of
praziquantel (Droncit, Drontal Plus, etc.). The Animal House does not routinely
treat for tapeworms unless they are visible or unless the cat/kitten was
admitted with a severe flea infestation (which usually results in the presence
of tapeworms).
Cats are not natural hosts
for heartworms and the risk for infection is lower than in dogs; however, cats
can develop heartworm disease. According to the American Veterinary Medical
Association, heartworms can cause severe reactions and death in cats. Heartworm
infection in cats occurs more often in warm climates and in areas where dogs
are at increased risk.
Heartworms are large worms that live in
your cat's pulmonary arteries and heart. While they are mainly a problem for
dogs, cats can be susceptible to them, too. They are transmitted through
mosquitoes and are somewhat difficult to diagnose. Clinical signs include rapid
breathing and coughing. A veterinarian will run a blood test to determine if
your cat has heartworms.
Symptoms of heartworm in cats include the
following:
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
There are no effective treatments
against heartworms in cats, and death may come suddenly to seemingly healthy
animals. Preventatives are available at your veterinarian, should you be
concerned about your cat contracting heartworms.
Most Animal House cats and kittens
receive a heartworm test along with the FIV and FeLV test. We have never seen
an active case of heartworm. Indoor cats have a very low risk; therefore, we do
not administer the preventative, which is comprised of a toxic chemical that,
over time, has been known to cause liver damage.
Coccidia are one-celled parasites that live in
the intestinal lining of animals and cause an infection known as coccidiosis.
Symptoms of coccidiosis are usually seen in kittens less than 6 months of age
or adult cats with weak immune systems, but coccidia can be present in cats of
any age and breed. Many cats can be infected with coccidia but show no
symptoms. Coccidiosis can spread quickly through groups of cats but is easily
treated if feline coccidia are detected early and medication is prescribed.
The most visible sign of coccidiosis is
a very distinctive watery diarrhea. It is usually a bright orange color and has
a wickedly bad smell. There may be blood and/or mucous in it. Left untreated,
this usually leads to dehydration and loss of appetite.
Feline coccidia are passed onto cats
through infected stool or a contaminated environment such as dirt that an
animal ingests. Cats that appear healthy may be infected with coccidia and pass
the parasite through their stool. Infection may also occur when a mouse that
has been in contact with contaminated stool or dirt becomes infected and then
passes on the coccidia when a cat eats the mouse.
The parasite cannot be seen with the
naked eye and diagnosis requires testing in a vet's office. Stool testing
should be conducted each year in all cats, healthy or sick, to diagnose any
parasites that may be present.
Coccidiosis is effectively treated with
a 10-day course of a medicine called Albon. A double dose is administered on
Day 1, with a half-dose given once a day for the next nine days.
Giardia in
cats is often an asymptomatic disease (meaning
there may be no visible symptoms) caused by an intestinal parasite. Giardia can
live in the intestines of cats, dogs or humans and may be transmitted from pets
to humans and vice-versa. The parasite will affect the cat’s immune system and
the pet can become susceptible to secondary diseases. Once detected, giardia
can be easily treated.
Commonly, a cat infected with giardia
will not display any symptoms. The symptoms may be present in kittens, senior
cats or cats with a weaker immune system and include:
- Diarrhea that is lighter in color than usual, is extremely liquid,
contains traces of fat and has a foul odor
- Weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Fever
- Susceptibility to diseases, when the cat has been infected for
long, as the parasites will weaken the immune system
Giardia is transmitted through cysts
which can be present in the cat’s feces, but also in contaminated soil and
water. Giardia may also be transmitted from mother to kittens.
Due to the fact that giardia often
presents no symptoms in cats, and may be difficult to detect. Several fecal
samples are usually necessary to confirm it. Since testing is hit-or-miss, and
giardia is easily treated, treatment can be given without a firm diagnosis.
Typical treatment is a week of metronidazole. This medication does not kill the
parasites, but it helps the cat eliminate them. There are no major side effects
of this medication.
Cats and kittens can
get worms in many different ways. Kittens can be born with them, having contracted
them from the mother, or they may get them through her milk while they are
nursing. They can ingest infected prey such as mice or birds, or contract them
through eggs in the soil or through the feces of other infected cats.
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